In good and bad times

In good and bad times

James 1:2

I have friends and family members who are unbelievers, and more than once they have asked me about the trials I go through. Not understanding God’s economy they ask “well if you are a Christian, how come your life isn’t perfect?” and I am able to talk to them about dying to yourself, and how becoming a follower of Christ is not a promise to a perfect life, but a life devoted to the Lord in which we have a hope in eternity.

We believe as Christians that in order to be true believers we must have it all together, when in reality that doesn’t define our relationship with Christ. Men and women in the Bible experienced the greatest of trials, yet they are called men and women of faith. What makes us Christians is our response to trials, our understanding that this isn’t our life, but it is God’s and we give Him our hard times, and glorify him in our good times.

Our response to hard times is a greater testimony to unbelievers than the lack of them will ever be. Nobody can relate to a group of people who have perfect lives, never struggle, never cry, never want to give up. But a people who in the middle of the hardest of times surrenders it all to the Lord, and finds joy and peace in His presence, now that is something everybody would like.

I once heard a saying that went something like “if you fail to praise God during the bad times, you’ll have a hard time giving him the glory in the good times.” Not only is your trial a way to have a greater testimony, it also is a great opportunity to shift your focus and give God glory when it is hardest to do so.